Updated August 2016
After you have received your Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) and the delivery of your services has started, you file an FCC Form 486 to inform USAC that:
In advance of the start of services, you and your service provider(s) should have a conversation about the details of the services you will be receiving. Be sure to review your contract, if you have one. In addition, you should determine whether it will be you or your service provider that will invoice USAC for the discounted amount of the cost of the services.
Note that under certain circumstances, advance installation of some Category One components can occur before July 1 of the funding year.
You can file an FCC Form 486 early (before services have started) if:
You must be in compliance with the requirements of CIPA before services start. USAC cannot pay discounts on services received during a period of time when you are not in compliance. USAC may review your compliance with these requirements either before or after your FCC Form 486 is processed.
The FCC Form 486 must be certified no later than 120 days after the Service Start Date or 120 days after the date of the FCDL, whichever is later. Filing late can result in a reduction in funding; the later the filing date, the greater the reduction. You can use the Deadlines Tool to calculate your FCC Form 486 deadline.
This letter features the information you provided on the form and outlines the next steps in the application process. If USAC was required to adjust the Service Start Date for a funding request due to a compliance issue, the Service Start Date in the letter will be marked with an asterisk and followed by an explanation of the reason for the adjustment.
After filing an FCC Form 486 for Funding Year (FY) 2016 in the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC), applicants will receive a notification in their EPC News feed. A notification will also go to the service provider(s) listed on the form.
After USAC completes the processing of your FCC Form 486, USAC will issue the applicant and service provider(s) an FCC Form 486 Notification Letter in the mail.
After USAC has processed your FCC Form 486 and you have begun to receive services, you or your service provider can invoice USAC for the discount share of those services.